bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - North Carolina Arboretum's Bonsai Garden

John,

Didn't get a chance to hear Arthur speak. I did find his approach very interesting and probably what people are getting at with the "American bonsai" etc. arguments. It's not really "American Bonsai." It's regional bonsai really. Bonsai, like politics, is local.

Arthur's approach melds many things to reach a richer end, I think. Melding eastern/western ideas has precendent in Japanese arts of another form. I collect "Shin Hanga" Japanese prints. The prints were an early 20th century reaction to the decline of the Japanese print industry. The artists used the same techniques as the old Ukiyoe prints of 100-200 years ago to create an entirely new, more 'naturalistic' form of art. The prints were aimed primarily at Western markets...

Here's link to one notable shin hanga "kacho-e" artist (kacho-e is a specialized category of print whose subjects are primarily plants and birds)

http://www.hanga.com/gallery.cfm?ID=11

Here's a link to a short history of shin hanga. Read it with an eye to the bonsai arguments about "naturalistic" and "traditional."
http://www.artelino.com/articles/shin_hanga.asp

As for the N.C. arb., I haven't had the chance to make it down there, but want to within the next year or so--I am familiar with the Blue ridge in the fall. Grew up there--in the Shenandoah Valley.

15-Jun-2005	#5
rockm bonsaiTALK ArchMaster Join Date: Oct-2003 Location: Fairfax, Va Country: USA USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 4,561	John, Didn't get a chance to hear Arthur speak. I did find his approach very interesting and probably what people are getting at with the "American bonsai" etc. arguments. It's not really "American Bonsai." It's regional bonsai really. Bonsai, like politics, is local. Arthur's approach melds many things to reach a richer end, I think. Melding eastern/western ideas has precendent in Japanese arts of another form. I collect "Shin Hanga" Japanese prints. The prints were an early 20th century reaction to the decline of the Japanese print industry. The artists used the same techniques as the old Ukiyoe prints of 100-200 years ago to create an entirely new, more 'naturalistic' form of art. The prints were aimed primarily at Western markets... Here's link to one notable shin hanga "kacho-e" artist (kacho-e is a specialized category of print whose subjects are primarily plants and birds) http://www.hanga.com/gallery.cfm?ID=11 Here's a link to a short history of shin hanga. Read it with an eye to the bonsai arguments about "naturalistic" and "traditional." http://www.artelino.com/articles/shin_hanga.asp As for the N.C. arb., I haven't had the chance to make it down there, but want to within the next year or so--I am familiar with the Blue ridge in the fall. Grew up there--in the Shenandoah Valley.